Dynamic mirroring of a network connection

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems are directed to dynamically mirroring a connection between network devices. Mirroring is managed by forwarding a packet between a first network device and a second network device. In one method, the first network device receives the packet from a client and communicates the packet to the second network device. A forwarding device, pre-determined from the first and second network devices, forwards the packet to a server. The first network device receives a response from the server, and communicates it to the second network device. The forwarding device forwards the response packet to the client. In one configuration, the first network device and forwarding device is an active device, and the second network device is a standby device. In another configuration, the first network device is a standby device, and the second network device and forwarding device is an active device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This utility patent application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/729,720 filed on Dec. 5, 2003, and entitled“System and Method For Dynamic Mirroring Of A Network Connection,” thebenefit of which is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120, and which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL INVENTION

The present invention relates to redundant network devices, and inparticular, to mirroring of a connection between an active networkdevice and a standby network device.

BACKGROUND

Today's high availability network devices, such as routers, loadbalancing systems, and the like, typically employ of pair of networkdevices; one network device, known as the ‘active unit,’ which processesnetwork traffic, and a second ‘standby unit,’ which monitors the activeunit, and takes over processing of the network traffic if the activeunit fails. To enable the standby unit to continue processing ofconnections that were in progress at the time of the failure, certaininformation about each connection should be made available to thestandby unit during processing. This process is known as ‘connectionmirroring.’ For simple connections, this may be limited to sendingconnection information at a beginning and an end of the connection.However, for more complex, high-level protocols, such as Secure SocketsLayer (SSL), and the like, significant amounts of connection informationmay need to be sent continuously to the standby unit during a lifetimeof the connection.

To ensure reliability during failover of the standby unit, theconnection mirroring system typically verifies that the information thatis sent to the standby unit is properly received. This may be performedby having the standby unit verify the integrity of the information itreceives, and provide an acknowledgement of the information. However,such communications may slow processing of connections by the activeunit, and increase the amount of network traffic that is sent betweenthe active unit and the standby unit.

Moreover, while some network connections may benefit from mirroring,others may not. In some networked applications, whether the connectionbenefits from mirroring may depend on a complex interplay of attributesassociated with the connection, a user, a server, and the data that ismanaged by the network device. For example, in a typical load balancingsystem, configuring the system so that mirroring only occurs for thoseconnections that may benefit from it often requires a complicatedconfiguration that needs to be updated frequently as an applicationbeing handled changes. Therefore, there is a need in the industry forimproved methods and systems for managing the reliability of aconnection mirroring of network devices. Thus, it is with respect tothese considerations and others that the present invention has beenmade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention aredescribed with reference to the following drawings. In the drawings,like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the variousfigures unless otherwise specified.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will bemade to the following Detailed Description of the Invention, which is tobe read in association with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an environment in which a systemoperates for managing reliability of a mirrored connection using acontent mirroring configuration;

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of an environment in which a systemoperates for managing reliability of a mirrored connection using astandby response configuration;

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of an environment in which a systemoperates for managing reliability of a mirrored connection using astandby first configuration;

FIG. 4 illustrates a functional block diagram of one embodiment of anetwork device in which the invention may be practiced;

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a packet flow diagram for thesystem shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a packet flow diagram for thesystem shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a packet flow diagram for thesystem shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 illustrates is a flow diagram generally showing one embodiment ofa process of managing the reliability of a mirrored connection as shownin FIGS. 1-3, according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, andwhich show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments bywhich the invention may be practiced. This invention may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.Among other things, the present invention may be embodied as methods ordevices. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of anentirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects. The followingdetailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Throughout the specification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural references. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

The term “packet” includes an IP (Internet Protocol) packet. The term“flow” includes a flow of packets through a network. The term“connection” refers to a flow or flows of packets that typically share acommon source and destination. The term “node” refers to a networkelement that typically interconnects one or more devices, or evennetworks.

Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to a system and methodfor dynamically mirroring a connection between network devices. Suchmirrored connections may be between network devices that are configuredto operate as load balancers, routers, proxies, bridges, network addresstranslators, traffic management devices, and the like.

Connection mirroring is accomplished in part by communicating the entirecontents of every packet, within a connection, between an active networkdevice and a standby network device. This enables the standby networkdevice to construct virtually an equivalent internal state associatedwith each connection, which may be employed in the event of a failure ofthe active network device.

Generally, a first network device receives a packet from a client andcommunicates the packet to a second network device. A forwarding device,pre-determined from the first and second network devices, forwards thepacket to a server, and may provide an acknowledgement packet to theclient. The first network device receives a response from the server,and communicates it to the second network device. The forwarding devicecommunicates another acknowledgement packet to the server. Theforwarding device also forwards the response packet to the client. Inone embodiment of a content mirroring configuration, the first networkdevice is an active network device, the second network device is astandby network device, and the forwarding device is the active networkdevice. In one embodiment of a standby response configuration, the firstnetwork device is the active network device, the second network deviceis the standby network device, and the forwarding device is the standbynetwork device. In one embodiment of a standby first configuration, thefirst network device is a standby network device, the second networkdevice is the active network device, and the forwarding device is theactive network device.

Illustrative Operating Environment

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an environment in which a systemoperates for managing reliability of a mirrored connection using acontent mirroring configuration. Not all the components may be requiredto practice the invention, and variations in the arrangement and type ofthe components may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention.

As shown in the figure, system 100 includes client 102, wide areanetwork (WAN)/local area network (LAN) 104, active network device 106,standby network device 108, and server computer 110. WAN/LAN 104 is incommunication with client 102 and active network device 106. Activenetwork device 106 is in communication with standby network device 108and with server computer 110. Solid lines between components in thefigure represent a flow of packets, or a forward connection, from client102 towards server 110. Dashed lines represent a flow of responsepackets, or response connection, from server 110 towards client 102.Together, the forward and response connection comprise a connectionbetween client 102 and server 110.

Client 102 may be any device capable of sending and receiving a packetover a network, such as WAN/LAN 104, to and from server 110. The set ofsuch devices may include devices that typically connect using a wiredcommunications medium such as personal computers, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,network PCs, and the like. The set of such devices may also includedevices that typically connect using a wireless communications mediumsuch as cell phones, smart phones, pagers, walkie talkies, radiofrequency (RF) devices, infrared (IR) devices, CBs, integrated devicescombining one or more of the preceding devices, and the like.Alternatively, client 102 may be any device that is capable ofconnecting using a wired or wireless communication medium such as a PDA,POCKET PC, wearable computer, and any other device that is equipped tocommunicate over a wired and/or wireless communication medium.

WAN/LAN 104 couples client 102 to active network device 106. WAN/LAN 104is enabled to employ any form of computer readable media forcommunicating information from one electronic device to another. Inaddition, WAN/LAN 104 can include the Internet in addition to local areanetworks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), direct connections, such asthrough a universal serial bus (USB) port, other forms ofcomputer-readable media, and any combination thereof. On aninterconnected set of LANs, including those based on differingarchitectures and protocols, a router acts as a link between LANs,enabling messages to be sent from one to another. Also, communicationlinks within LANs typically include twisted wire pair or coaxial cable,while communication links between networks may utilize analog telephonelines, full or fractional dedicated digital lines including T1 T2, T3,and T4, Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDNs), Digital SubscriberLines (DSLs), wireless links including satellite links, or othercommunications links known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore,remote computers and other related electronic devices could be remotelyconnected to either LANs or WANs via a modem and temporary telephonelink. In essence, WAN/LAN 104 includes any communication method by whichinformation may travel between client 102 and active network device 106.Although not shown, a network substantially similar to WAN/LAN 104 maycouple active network 106 to server 110.

Server 110 may include any computing device capable of communicatingpackets with client 102. Each packet may convey a piece of information.A packet may be sent for handshaking, i.e., to establish a connection orto acknowledge receipt of data. The packet may include information suchas a request, a response, a put command, a configuration command, or thelike. For example, a packet may represent a write transaction, a readtransaction, a request transaction, and the like, to a database, orother application hosted on server 110. The information may also becommunicated employing any of a variety of compression/decompressiontechniques, including, but not limited to, file compression includingARC, ZIP, and the like, data compression including BMP, fractal imagecompression, TIFF, and the like. The information may also be encryptedemploying any of a variety of security techniques, including, but notlimited to those employed in Secure Sockets Layers (SSL), Layer 2Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), Transport Layer Security (TLS), Tunneling TLS(TTLS), IPSec, Extensible Authentication Protocol, (EAP), and the like.

Generally, packets received by server 110 will be formatted according toTCP/IP, but they could also be formatted using another transportprotocol, such as User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Internet Control MessageProtocol (ICMP), NETbeui, IPX/SPX, token ring, and the like.

Moreover, server 110 is arranged such that at least a portion of contenton server 110 may be replicated across another server (not shown). Insuch a configuration, active network device 106 and standby networkdevice 108 may be configured to operate as toad balancers, to enabledetermination of a server to respond to client requests.

Server 110 may be configured to operate as a website, a File System, aFile Transfer Protocol (FTP) server, a Network News Transfer Protocol(NNTP) server, a database server, and the like.

Devices that may operate as server 110 include, but are not limited to,personal computers desktop computers, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,servers, and the like.

Active network device 106 includes virtually any device that managesnetwork traffic between client 102 and server 110. Such devices include,for example, routers, proxies, firewalls, load balancers, devices thatperform network address translations, devices that performcompression/decompression of packet contents, any combination of thepreceding devices, and the like.

Active network device 106 may, for example, control a packet flow,between client 102 and server 110. Active network device 106 may operateas a load balancing device that is configured to determine a serverother than server 110 for which to route packets from client 102. Activenetwork device 106 may employ any of a variety of load-balancingmechanisms to determine the server to service client 102.

Active network device 106 may also perform operations on the packets asthe packets flow through it. For example, active network device 106 mayperform a network address translation (NAT) upon a header within apacket. That is, in a TCP/IP packet, active network device 106 maychange the source and/or destination field within the packet header.

Active network device 106 may also insert information into, and/orremove information from, the flow of packets between client 102 andserver 110. Active network device 106 may combine more than one packetto perform a transformation that may span a packet boundary, or to makea load balancing, and the like, based on information that spans thepacket boundary. If it combines more than one packet, active networkdevice 106 may forward more or fewer packets than were originallycombined after performing the transformation.

Active network device 106 may also perform a compression and/ordecompression operation upon the packet, a packet payload, and the like.For example, active network device 106 may compress or decompress apacket received from client 102 prior to forwarding the packet to server110. Similarly, active network device 106 may compress or decompress aresponse packet received from server 110, prior to forwarding theresponse packet to client 102. Active network device 106 may employ anyof a variety of mechanisms to perform the compression/de compressionoperations upon the packet, packet payload, and the like. Active networkdevice 106 may further combine multiple packets before compressionand/or decompression, and forward more or fewer packets aftercompression and/or decompression.

Active network device 106 may generate additional information used toestablish a network connection, or based on a variety of events duringan existing network connection. This additional information may include,but is not limited to an initial sequence number, and the like. Activenetwork device 106 may forward the additional information to standbynetwork device 108.

Similarly, active network device 106 may be configured to establish andmaintain a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) connection between client 102 andserver 110. Active network device 106 may generate additionalinformation used to establish the SSL connection, including, but notlimited to, a server-random value, and the like. Active network device106 may further perform any encryption/decryption operations employed bythe SSL protocol upon the packets associated with the connection betweenclient 102 and server 110. Because active network device 106 maygenerate such additional information employed in the SSL protocol,decompression/compression operations, and the like, it is designated asthe ‘active’ network device.

Moreover, active network device 106 may perform virtually anytransformation upon the packets that are sent between client 102 andserver 110, including, but not limited to combining packets, splittingpackets, and the like to perform the transformation.

Active network device 106 may maintain state information about theconnection between client 102 and server 110, to gracefully close aconnection if, for example, server 110 fails, or the like. In addition,active network device 106 may employ the state information to reroute aconnection to another server should server 110 fail. State informationassociated with any security connection, compression/decompressionaction, and the like, may also be maintained by active network device106.

Standby network device 108 is configured to operate substantiallysimilar to active network device 106. Further, standby network device108 is configured to mirror operations and determined connections ofactive network device 106 so as to assume the operations and determinedconnections in the event of a failure of active network device 106. Assuch, active network device 106 is configured to communicate determinedinformation between standby network device 108, in case of a failover.

Although only a single standby network device 108 is illustrated, thepresent invention is not so limited. For example, active network device106 may communicate with multiple standby network devices, withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

As part of the mirroring of connections, active network device 106and/or standby network device 108 may determine to mirror eachconnection. Active network device 106 and/or standby network device 108may also be configured to determine a subset of connections to mirror.In one embodiment of the invention, active network device 106 andstandby network device 108 may be configured to dynamically enableand/or disable mirroring based on virtually any aspect of a connection,including, but not limited to, a duration of a connection, a size ofdata being transferred, a type of data, a content of a packet, anidentity of a user associated with client 102, an application, acharacteristic associated with a customer, a characteristic associatedwith the packet, and the like. Moreover, dynamic mirroring may beenabled and/or disabled virtually anytime during a connection.

When standby network device 108 is brought ‘on line,’ it typically mayhave little or no knowledge of an active connection. Therefore, activenetwork device 106 is further configured to provide a minimum amount ofpre-determined information about each connection to standby networkdevice 108 to enable it to recover the connection. This may be performedon as needed bases, such that more active, or the busiest connections,may be mirrored before a lesser active connection. In one embodiment, atimer is employed to ensure that idle connections are mirrored within areasonable, pre-determined, period of time.

For example, a list, table, database, and the like, of connections,maintained by active network device 106 may be walked through at apre-determined rate. Connections identified within the list may bemirrored in a pre-determined order. However, when a packet is receivedby active network device 106, it may interrupt the walk-through, suchthat the connection associated with the packet may be mirrored. Thewalk-though may then be continued. The invention is not so limitedhowever. For example, the connection associated with the received packetmay also result in a reordering of the list, table, database, and thelike, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Shown in FIG. 1, is one embodiment of connection mirroring of theconnections managed by active network 106. A flow of packets associatedwith FIG. 1 is described in more detail below in conjunction with FIG.5. Briefly, however, as shown in FIG. 1, the entire content of eachpacket in a connection to be mirrored is forwarded from active networkdevice 106 to standby network device 108. Standby network device 108 isconfigured to perform substantially the same operations on the mirroredpacket as active network device 106 might perform. However, standbynetwork device 108 is configured typically not to send out its output,unless it becomes the active network device. During a complex operation,such as SSL, standby network device 108 is configured to receive andemploy certain information from active network device 106. Suchinformation may include a random seed, a server-random, encryption keys,certificates, and the like. Standby network device 108 may also receiveand employ certain information from active network device 106 duringother situations. This additional information may include an initialsequence number, and the like.

Communicating virtually the same packets to standby network device 108enables standby network device 108 to construct virtually an equivalentinternal state, substantially similar to one maintained by activenetwork device 106. This enables a more rapid failover response shouldactive network device 106 fail than might occur should standby networkdevice 108 have to regenerate the actions from static information aboutthe connections. This also enables complex, high-level protocols, suchas compression, SSL, and the like, to be mirrored with minimaladditional state information transferred from active network device 106.In some instances, such as with a compression action, virtually notransfer of state information may be needed.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of an environment in which a systemoperates for managing reliability of a mirrored connection using astandby response configuration. Not all the components may be requiredto practice the invention, and variations in the arrangement and type ofthe components may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention.

As shown in the figure, system 200 includes client 102, wide areanetwork (WAN)/local area network (LAN) 104, active network device 206,standby network device 208, and server computer 110. Components numberedsimilar to those in FIG. 1 operate substantially similar. Active networkdevice 206 is configured to perform similar to active network device 106in FIG. 1. Similarly, standby network device 208 is configured toperform similar to standby network device 108 in FIG. 1. A differencebetween the environment shown in FIG. 1 and that shown in FIG. 2 is thatthe WAN/LAN 104 is in communication with client 102, active networkdevice 206, and standby network device 208. Active network device 206 isalso in communication with standby network device 208 and with servercomputer 110. Standby network device 208 is further in communicationwith server 110.

The flow of packets shown in FIG. 2 is described in more detail below inconjunction with FIG. 6. Briefly, however, as shown in FIG. 2, standbynetwork device 208 is configured to send substantially all mirroredpackets, including acknowledgement packets as appropriate, forwardedconnection data, and the like, that might typically be sent by activenetwork device 106 as shown in FIG. 1. Moreover, should a packet bedropped, corrupted, and the like, while being transferred between activenetwork device 206 and standby network device 208, the appropriatenetwork peer is configured to retransmit the packet, data, and the like,virtually the same as if it had been dropped at any other point in thenetwork.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of an environment in which a systemoperates for managing reliability of a mirrored connection using astandby first configuration. Not all the components may be required topractice the invention, and variations in the arrangement and type ofthe components may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention.

As shown in the figure, system 300 includes client 102, wide areanetwork (WAN)/local area network (LAN) 104, active network device 306,standby network device 308, and server computer 110. Components numberedsimilar to those in FIG. 1 can operate in substantially similar ways.Active network device 306 is configured to perform similar to activenetwork device 106 in FIG. 1. Similarly, standby network device 308 isconfigured to perform similar to standby network device 108 in FIG. 1. Adifference between the environment shown in FIG. 1 and that shown inFIG. 3 is that the WAN/LAN 104 is in communication with client 102,active network device 306, and standby network device 308. Activenetwork device 306 is also in communication with standby network device308 and with server computer 110. Standby network device 308 is furtherin communication with server 110.

The flow of packets shown in FIG. 3 is described in more detail below inconjunction with FIG. 7. Briefly, however, as shown in FIG. 3,reliability of mirrored connections is ensured by arranging packets tobe sent to standby network device 308 first. Standby network device 308is configured to forward the packets to active network device 306.Active network device 306 forwards the packets as with non-mirroredconnections.

FIG. 4 illustrates a functional block diagram of one embodiment of anetwork device in which the invention may be practiced. It will beappreciated that not all components of network device 400 areillustrated, and that network device 400 may include more or fewercomponents than those shown in FIG. 4. Network device 400 may operate,for example, as a router, bridge, firewall, gateway, traffic managementdevice, distributor, load balancer, server array controller, or proxyserver. The communications may take place over a network, such asnetwork 104 in FIGS. 1-3, the Internet, a WAN, LAN, or some othercommunications network known to those skilled in the art.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, network device 400 includes a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 402, mass memory, and a network interface unit 412connected via a bus 404. Network interface unit 412 includes thenecessary circuitry for connecting network device 400 to network 104,and the like, and is constructed for use with various communicationprotocols including the TCP/IP and UDP/IP protocol. Network interfaceunit 412 may include or interface with circuitry and components fortransmitting messages and data over a wired and/or wirelesscommunications medium. Network interface unit 412 is sometimes referredto as a transceiver.

The mass memory generally includes random access memory (“RAM”) 406,read-only memory (“ROM”) 414, and one or more permanent mass storagedevices, such as hard disk drive 408. The mass memory stores operatingsystem 416 for controlling the operation of network device 400. Theoperating system 416 may comprise an operating system such as UNIX,LINUX™, Windows™, and the like.

In one embodiment, the mass memory stores program code and data forimplementing a connection mirroring 418, and related program code anddata, in accordance with the present invention. The mass memory may alsostore additional programs 424 and data for performing the functions ofnetwork device 400. Programs 424 may also include applications that areemployed by connection mirroring 418 to handle complex, high-levelprotocols, including, but not limited to, compression and Secure SocketLayer (SSL) operations on packets.

In one embodiment, the network device 400 includes one or moreApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chips 426 connected tothe bus 404. As shown in FIG. 4, the network interface unit 412 mayconnect to the bus through an ASIC chip. The ASIC chip 426 includeslogic that performs some of the functions of network device 400. Forexample, in one embodiment, the ASIC chip 426 performs a number ofpacket processing functions, to process incoming packets. In oneembodiment, determined actions of connection mirroring 418 are performedby the ASIC chip 426, a similar hardware device, and the like. In oneembodiment, the network device 400 includes one or morefield-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) (not shown), instead of, or inaddition to, the ASIC chip 426. A number of functions of the networkdevice can be performed by the ASIC chip 426, by an FPGA, by the CPU 402with the logic of program code stored in mass memory, or by acombination of the ASIC chip and the CPU.

Computer storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removableand non-removable media implemented in any method or technology forstorage of information, such as computer readable instructions, datastructures, program modules or other data. Examples of computer storagemedia include RAM 406, ROM 414, EEPROM, flash memory or other memorytechnology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other opticalstorage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can store theinformation and that can be accessed by a computing device.

Network device 400 may also include an input/output interface (notshown) for communicating with external devices or users.

Network device 400 can also be implemented as one or more “blades” wherethe term “blade” refers to one of multiple electronic circuit boards orcards that are installed in a hardware chassis with a backplane. Anexemplary blade may include one or more processors, volatile andnon-volatile memory, interfaces suitable for communicating informationto and from the blade, and other components for enabling the operationof one or more applications. A blade may also include a specializedinterface for the backplane and other interfaces, such as a USB port,FIREWIRE port, serial port, RF interface, IR interface, Ethernetinterface, IDE controller, and the like. An application running on ablade may employ any of these interfaces to communicate information toother applications running on other blades and/or devices coupled to theblade server. Network device 400 can also be implemented as acombination of blades and additional components in the chassis.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a packet flow diagram for thesystem shown in FIG. 1. As shown in the diagram, packet flow 500includes client 102, active network device 106, standby network device108, and server 110 across the top. Time may be viewed as flowingdownward in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 5, client 102 sends a packet to active network device106. Active network device 106 may make a determination based in part ona variety of attributes associated with the packet, whether the packetis to be mirrored. If the packet is to be mirrored, active networkdevice 106 sends a copy of the packet to standby network device 108 formirroring. Active network device may also provide an acknowledgementpacket to client 102, indicating that the original packet was received.Active network device 106 and standby network device 108 both mayperform transformations upon the packet, includingcompression/decompression, security actions, such as SSL actions, andthe like. Should any unpredictable information, such as a server-random,encryption keys, certificates, and the like be needed by both devices,active network device 106 is configured to provide them to standbynetwork device 108. Upon completion of the appropriate transformationoperations, if any, the output of standby network device 108 may bediscarded.

As next shown in the figure, active network device 106, forwards thepacket, including any transformations upon the packet, to server 110.Server 110, provides a response to the packet to active network device106. Active network device in return, provides a copy of the responsepacket to standby network device 108 for mirroring. Active networkdevice 106 may also provide an acknowledgement packet to server 110.

Should any transformations be performed upon the response packet, bothactive network device and 106 and standby network device 108 performthem. In this manner, standby network device 108 is current andpositioned to assume the active role should active network device 106fail. However, if no failure of active network device 106 is detected,the output of standby network device 108 may be discarded. Activenetwork device 106 sends the response packet, including anytransformation upon the packet to client 102.

As shown in FIG. 5, the invention is configured to perform a traditionalmirror before commit protocol. The client device sends a packet, theactive network mirrors the packet to the standby network device beforecommitting to move forward in the protocol by providing anacknowledgement packet. As such, should the active network device fallbefore sending the packet to the standby network device, noacknowledgement packet is sent. The client would traditionallyretransmit the packet. If the active network device fails after sendingthe packet copy to the standby network device, the standby networkdevice, would then be ready to take over as the active network device.

However, the above configuration may sometimes result in dropped packetsbetween the standby network device and the active network device. Theactive network device may fail to the standby network device. Thestandby network device may however continue as though there wasn't aproblem, resulting in the standby network device and active networkdevice possibly being out of synchronization. The configurationsdescribed below in FIGS. 6 and 7 (and above in FIGS. 2 and 3) aredirected at overcoming such problems.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a packet flow diagram for thesystem shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 6, packet flow 600 includesclient 102, active network device 206, standby network device 208, andserver 110 across the top. Time may be viewed as flowing downward in thefigure.

As shown in the figure, the standby network device sends substantiallyall packets that might normally be sent by the active network device,including acknowledgement packets and forwarded connection information.Also, in this configuration, the results of transformations, and otheroutput, from active network device 206 are discarded, other than anyunpredictable information, such as a server-random, encryption keys,certificates, and the like needed by both devices. Thus, for example,the acknowledgement packet is sent by standby network device 208 uponreceipt of the copy of the client's packet, and the copy of the responsepacket. Additionally, standby network device 208 provides thetransformed client's packet to server 110, and the transformed responsepacket to client 102.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a packet flow diagram for thesystem shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 7, packet flow 700 includesclient 102, active network device 306, standby network device 308, andserver 110 across the top. Time may be viewed as flowing downward in thefigure.

As shown in the figure, network traffic is arranged to be sent tostandby network device 308 first. Standby network device 308 isconfigured to forward packets to active network device 306. As such, forexample, standby network device 308 receives the packet from client 102,and forwards a copy of the packet to active network device 306.Similarly, standby network device 308 receives the response packet fromserver 110, and forwards a copy of the response packet to active networkdevice 306. Active network device 306 is configured to forward networktraffic as with non-mirrored connections. For example, active networkdevice 306 forwards the acknowledgement to client 102, and forwards theclient's packet, including any transformation upon the packet to server110. Similarly, active network device 306, forwards the response packetto client 102, including any transformation upon the response packet.

The standby first and standby response mechanisms described above inconjunction with FIGS. 6 and 7 may be implemented to avoid sending apacket by packet acknowledgement from the standby network device to theactive network device. However, the present invention is not so limited.For example, either mechanism may be implemented to send a packet bypacket acknowledgement between the active network device and standbynetwork device, without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

Illustrative Method of Ensuring Reliability of a Mirrored Connection

FIG. 8 illustrates is a flow diagram generally showing one embodiment ofa process of managing the reliability of a mirrored connection as shownin FIGS. 1-3, and 5-7, according to one embodiment of the invention.

Process 800 typically starts after a first network device, a secondnetwork device, and a forwarding network device is determined. However,the invention is not so limited. For example, the forwarding networkdevice may be determined dynamically, during operation of process 800.

As shown in FIG. 8, process 800 may thus be deployed in FIG. 1, wherethe first network device is active network device 106, the secondnetwork device is standby network device 108, and the forwarding deviceis active network device 108. Process 800 may also be deployed acrosscomponents in FIG. 2, where the first network device is active networkdevice 206, the second network device is standby network device 208, andthe forwarding device is standby network device 208. Additionally,process 800 may be deployed across components in FIG. 3, where the firstnetwork device is standby network device 308, the second network deviceis active network device 306, and the forwarding device is activenetwork device 306. However, the invention as illustrated in FIG. 8 isnot so limited. For example, process 800 may also be deployed in asystem where the first network device is a standby network device, thesecond network device is an active network device, and the forwardingdevice is the standby network device, without departing from the scopeof the present invention.

Process 800 proceeds after a start block, at block 802, where the firstnetwork device receives a packet from a client device. For example, asin FIGS. 2 and 6, the first network device is the active network device.As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the first network device is the standbynetwork device.

Process 800 continues to decision block 804, where a determination ismade whether a connection associated with the received packet is to bemirrored. Mirroring of a connection may be based upon a variety ofaspects of a connection, including, but not limited to, duration of aconnection, a characteristic of the received packet, an applicationbeing accessed by the client, and the like. In any event, if it isdetermined that the connection is to be mirrored, processing proceeds toblock 806; otherwise, processing branches to block 816.

At block 806, a copy of the packet is communicated to the second networkdevice. Also, at block 806, the pre-determined forwarding device sendsan acknowledgement packet to the client device. As shown in FIGS. 5 and7, the active network device may provide an acknowledgement packet tothe client device. As shown in FIG. 6, the standby network device mayprovide the acknowledgement packet to the client device.

Process 800 proceeds to block 808, where the pre-determined forwardingdevice forwards the packet towards the server. As shown in FIGS. 5 and7, the active network device forwards the packet. The process continuesto block 810, where the first network device receives a response packetfrom the server. The process proceeds to block 812, where the firstnetwork device communicates a copy of the response packet to the secondnetwork device. Furthermore, an acknowledgement packet is also sent tothe server by the pre-determined forwarding device, to acknowledgereceiving the response packet.

The process next continues to block 814, where the forwarding deviceforwards the response packet towards the client. Upon completion ofblock 814, processing returns to a calling process.

Back at decision block 804, if it is determined that the connection isnot to be mirrored, processing branches to block 816, where the firstnetwork device forwards the packet received from the client devicetowards the server. At block 816, the first network device may alsoprovide an acknowledgement packet to the client device. At block 818,the first network device receives a response packet from the server, andat block 820 forwards the response packet towards the client. Also atblock 820, the first network device may provide an acknowledgementpacket to the server. Upon completion of block 820, processing returnsto the calling process.

It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrationsdiscussed above, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations above, can be implemented by computer programinstructions. These program instructions may be provided to a processorto produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute on theprocessor, create means for implementing the actions specified in theflowchart block or blocks. The computer program instructions may beexecuted by a processor to cause a series of operational steps to beperformed by the processor to produce a computer-implemented processsuch that the instructions, which execute on the processor, providesteps for implementing the actions specified in the flowchart block orblocks.

Although the invention is described in terms of a packet communicatedbetween a client device and a server, the invention is not so limited.For example, the packet may be communicated between virtually anyresource, including but not limited to multiple clients, multipleservers, and any other device, without departing from the scope of theinvention.

Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart illustrations support combinationsof means for performing the specified actions, combinations of steps forperforming the specified actions and program instruction means forperforming the specified actions. It will also be understood that eachblock of the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations, can be implemented by special purposehardware-based systems, which perform the specified actions or steps, orcombinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The above specification, examples, and data provide a completedescription of the manufacture and use of the composition of theinvention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, the inventionresides in the claims hereinafter appended.

1. A system useable in mirroring a connection in a network, comprising:a client-receiver that is determined from one of an first network deviceor a second network device, and is configured to perform actions,including: receiving, from a client device, a packet over the network;and if the connection is to be mirrored, communicating the packet to theother one of the first network device or the second network device thatis other than the network device determined as the client-receivernetwork device, wherein the non client-receiver receives the packet fromthe client-receiver instead of from the client device; a server-receiverthat is determined from one of the first network device or the secondnetwork device, and is configured to perform actions, including:receiving, from a server device over the network, a response packet; andif the connection is to be mirrored, communicating the response packetto the other one of the first network device or the second networkdevice that is other than the network device determined as theserver-receiver network device; and a forwarder that is determined fromone of the first network device or the second network device, and isconfigured to perform actions, including: forwarding the packet to theserver device; sending an acknowledgement packet to the client device;forwarding the response packet to the client device; and sending anotheracknowledgement packet to the server device.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the packet and the response packet are communicated over thenetwork as one of a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) packet or a UserDatagram Protocol (UDP) packet.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein if theconnection is un-mirrored, determining at least one of the first networkdevice to be the client-receiver, server-receiver, and the forwarder orthe second network device to be the client-receiver, server-receiver,and the forwarder.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein determining if theconnection is to be mirrored is based, in part, on at least one of aduration of a connection, or a characteristic associated with thepacket.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network device is anactive network device, the second network device is a standby networkdevice, and the forwarder is determined to be the active network device.6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network device is an activenetwork device, the second network device is a standby network device,and the forwarder is determined to be the standby network device.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein first network device is a standby networkdevice, the second network device is an active network device, and theforwarder is the active network device.
 8. A method of mirroring aconnection in a network stored therein, comprising: sending a packetover a network such that one of a first network device or a secondnetwork device receives the packet from a source device; selectivelymirroring the connection with the source device and a destination deviceby providing the packet to the other one of the second network device orthe first network device by the packet receiving network device insteadof from the source device; forwarding the packet to the destinationdevice over the network such that destination device receives the packetfrom one of the first network device or the second network device;receiving a response packet from the destination device over the networksuch that one of the first network device or the second network devicereceives the response packet from the destination device; selectivelymirroring the connection with source device and the destination deviceby providing the response packet to the other one of the second networkdevice or the first network device by the response packet receivingnetwork device instead of from the destination device; and sending anacknowledgement to the source device, wherein the acknowledgement issent by the same network device that forwards the packet to thedestination device.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:forwarding the response to the source device from one of the firstnetwork device or the second network device; and sending anotheracknowledgement to the destination device, wherein the otheracknowledgement is sent by the same network device that forwards theresponse to the source device.
 10. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: selectively mirroring the connection by providing the packetto a plurality of other network devices.
 11. The method of claim 8,wherein selectively mirroring the connection further comprisesdetermining whether to mirror the connection based on at least one of aduration of the connection, or a characteristic of the packet.
 12. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the forwarding the packet to the destinationdevice further comprises performing at least one of compression or anencryption on content associated with the packet.
 13. The method ofclaim 8, wherein selectively mirroring the connection further comprisessynchronizing information about each active connection between the firstnetwork device and the second network device.
 14. The method of claim 8,wherein the packet receiving network device is the first network deviceand the packet forwarding network device is the second network device.15. The method of claim 8, wherein the packet receiving network deviceis the second network device and the packet forwarding network device isthe first network device.
 16. The method of claim 8, wherein the packetreceiving network device is the first network device and the packetforwarding network device is the first network device.
 17. A method ofmirroring a connection in a network, comprising: receiving a packet froma client by a receiving device selected from one of a plurality ofmirroring network devices; communicating the packet to the other networkdevices in the plurality of mirroring network devices such that thepacket is received from the selected receiving device instead of fromthe client; forwarding the packet to a server, wherein the packet isforwarded by a forwarding device selected from one of the plurality ofmirroring network devices; receiving a response from the server by aserver-receiving device selected from one of the plurality of mirroringnetwork devices; communicating the response to the other network devicesin the plurality of mirroring network devices such that the packet isreceived from the selected receiving device instead of from the server;and providing an acknowledgement of the packet to the client such thatthe acknowledgement is received from the forwarding device instead ofthe unselected other network devices in the plurality of mirroringnetwork devices.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receivingdevice is an active network device selected from the plurality ofmirroring network devices, and the unselected other network devices arestandby network devices, and the forwarding device is the active networkdevice.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving device is astandby network device selected from the plurality of mirroring networkdevices, and one of the unselected other network devices is an activenetwork device, and the forwarding device is the active network device.20. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving device and theforwarding device are the same network device.